We’ve deemed him ready for a couple weeks, but Sunday was the first time the Pirates gave any indication that top pitching prospect and 2006 first round (fourth overall) draft pick Brad Lincoln is about to get the call. Neal Huntington, on his weekly radio interview:

“We’re not at liberty to say that Brad Lincoln will pitch that game, nor will I sit here and say Brad Lincoln will not pitch that game,” Huntington said. “Brad is definitely a candidate to make his Major League debut Wednesday night.”

Not definitive, but it certainly has opened the door. Dana Eveland is pitching Monday, and Jeff Karstens is pitching Tuesday. Wednesday would be Zach Duke’s turn, but he could easily move back a day if Lincoln was to come up.

The only factors that could play into the decision are the results of Eveland’s and Karstens’ starts. If Lincoln comes up, one of those two is going to have to go. Hopefully the Bucs decide to insert the promising piece of the future into the rotation instead of keeping both marginal fifth starters.

I’d have to imagine that will be the case, and others agree. Of course, Brad’s potential debut would come one night after Stephen Strasburg’s. We could be in for a very interesting series in the nation’s capital this week.

“Brad is definitely a candidate to make his Major League debut Wednesday night.”